A major incident has been declared over the ongoing Dovestones moorland fire as an arson suspect remains in custody for questioning. The blaze, which started on Saturday evening (July 11) in Saddleworth, has been battled by fire crews and police since it broke out.
A 20-year-old man was detained by detectives in Oldham on Monday morning and remains in custody on suspicion of arson. Firefighters are continuing to tackle the huge blaze, with major avoid area warnings and road closures still in place.
Major Incident Declared
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed a major incident had been declared. Work is ongoing to prevent the flames from spreading further, but wind conditions are continuing to blow smoke across the region.
A statement read: "Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has declared a major incident and remains at the scene, where firefighters are continuing to work alongside partner agencies to contain the fire and prevent further spread."
"Due to weather conditions, smoke from the fire may be noticeable in parts of Greater Manchester and beyond. If smoke is affecting your area, or there is visible smoke nearby, stay indoors where possible and keep windows and doors closed to reduce smoke entering your home."
"During the hot weather, people can help keep cool by drawing curtains to block direct sunlight, using fans to circulate air and keeping hydrated. Once smoke has moved away, consider opening windows and doors to ventilate and cool your home, while continuing to monitor conditions and follow any updated public advice."
"We are also asking people to avoid the Dovestone area to allow emergency services to work safely and allow for access routes to be clear."
Eyewitness Accounts of Fireworks
Eyewitnesses told the Manchester Evening News they heard a number of loud bangs before the fire broke out on Saturday night. Multiple video clips and images posted to social media show a group of youths setting off fireworks at the beauty spot in Greenfield. One firework then appears to spark a blaze in dry grasses, before a group of bystanders run over to the smoking section of moorland. In another video recorded shortly afterwards, flames can be seen quickly spreading across a hillside at the Saddleworth beauty spot.
Police Investigation
Det Insp Andrew Day of Oldham CID said: “We are aware of social media posts circulating regarding this incident and would like to stress that this is a live police investigation. We would encourage people stop speculating regarding this and if you do have information, please report it to ourselves.”
